Description of Sampling Sites

Beach waste monitoring was done in the frame of the program EMBLAS II in October 2016. Survey was done by researchers of Scientific Research Firm “GAMMA” in collaboration with EMBLAS partner Iv.Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU). Sites selection, sampling, waste categorization and assessment of results were done according to methodology presented in “Guidance on Monitoring of Marine Litter in European Seas. JRC Scientific and Policy Report EUR 26113 EN. 2013”.%d1%80%d0%b8%d1%81%d1%83%d0%bd%d0%be%d0%ba5
%d1%80%d0%b8%d1%81%d1%83%d0%bd%d0%be%d0%ba4Two different beaches were chosen:

  1. Sarpi, close to Turkey border (Fig.1)
  2. Northern end of Kobuleti. This site was, also, examined in October, 2015 (Fig.2)

fig1

Fig. 1.Map of surrounding of assessed beach Sarpi

fig2

Fig. 2. Map of surrounding of assessed beach Kobuleti Northern Periphery

Findings of Beach Litter Monitoring

The results of the survey showed that the total amount of waste on Kobuleti beach twice exceeded amount of waste in Sarpi – 1560 and 844 respectively. There was a big amount of plastic waste especially in Kobuleti (1422 unit, 91.15% of total), meanwhile the level of plastic waste on Sarpi beach was much lower – 516 unit, 61.14% of total. (Fig. 3,4).

Based on the results of the survey it can be concluded, that the highway represents the main source of waste on Sarpi beach due to the permanent traffic jam on the border.  This waste mainly consists from food and food containers, cans and sweet/crisp wrappers, drink bottles, as well as spoiled car parts. It is obvious, that all these waste gets to the beach from the road and not from the sea side. This part of Georgian beach was selected with the aim of identification of trends of transboundary impact of litter, though, investigation reveal, that the road transport and municipal infrastructure represents the main source of beach litter exposed.

On Kobuleti beach there was found waste related to the fishing stuff, these were handmade fishing float, rope and remains of nets, leather and rubber, metal, ropes, cords and tiles.

Thus, it may be concluded, that the waste on the sampling sites appeared from the land based sources, leached from the sea or left on the beach by visitors.

fig3Fig. 3 Beach waste composition, Sarpifig4Fig.4 Beach waste composition, Kobuleti